Gear-shifting mechanism.



E.E. GRAY. GEAR'S'HIFTING MECHANiSM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR- 21,1914- Patented May 21,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

E. E. GRAY. GEAR SHIFTING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED MAR-21.1914- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

fluarz /bf" maf'aifflr i z/ Patented ay 21, 1918.

FE %TATE PATENT @FFICE.

EDWARD 1E. GRAY, OF PLANO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO GRAY PNEUMATIC "GEAR SHIFT COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

GEAR-SHIFTING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 21, 11918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD E. GRAY, a citizen of the United States, residin at Plano, in the county of Kendall and tate of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gear-Shifting Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to -shifting device for change gear mechanismsfor automobiles and the like, and especially to those types which are operated by mechanical means.

The purpose of the invention is to obtain a mechanism by means of which any desired gear may be selected for subsequent operation without it being first necessary to withdraw the gear in engagement and which further renders it possible to instantly put the selected gear into mesh at any moment, simply by the forward and backward movement of an operating member.

The invention further relates to mechanism for obtaining lost motion in a system of rods which connect the selecting device with the operating member while the engine clutch is being released, and further to the special construction of the plunger and of the selecting bars by means of which the selecting bar which was drawn forward during a previous change of gear is first moved into neutral position before another gear is put into mesh.

For the. attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects as will appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in the construction, combination, and arrangement of the several parts generally shown in the accompanying drawings and described in the specification but more particularly pointed out in the appended clalms.

In the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates the invention as applied to the operating mechanism of an automobile; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the selector mechanism on the line 22 of Fig. 4:; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the shifting mechanism; Fig. 4 is a similar view of the shifting mechanism in changed position; Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the shifting mechanism looking from the left hand side of Fig. 3, and Fig. 6 is a section of the shifting mechanism, the

right-hand half being a section on the line AA of Fig. 3 and the left-hand half on go the line B-B.

The object of the present invention is attained by connecting the operating member, which is connected directly with the clutch pedal, by lost motion to a plunger provided with a dog for coupling it with selecting bars, said plunger sliding on a selecting spindle which is rotated by the indicating mechanism, the plunger being compelled to rotate with the spindle.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates generally the casing of the shifting mechanism which is provided with a cylindrical bore 2in which the plunger 3 is movably mounted. This plunger is provided in its front end with a central bore 4 and with a groove 5 in which a key 7 of a selecting spindle 6 slides. The plunger terminates at the front end in a head 8 providedwith a recess 9 in which a dog 10 is movably mounted by means of a slot 11, on the selecting spindle 6. In the recess above the dog 10 is a-spring 12 which {lentils to force the dog out of the plunger At its rear end the plunger is provided with a circular toothed portion 13 which gears with a toothed sector 15 mounted on a pivot 14 in the casing 1. The sector is provided, diametrically opposite its toothed end, with an arm 16 on the end of which is'a rotatable roller 17. Above this roller is arranged a slide 18 having a bracket 20 connected thereto which is provided with a stop 19, the bracket being connected by means of a bar 21 with a foot pedal 33 by means of-a slotted link 34.

Below the slide 18 and near to the rear end thereof is a pivotally mounted pawl 22 disposed above the roller 17 one arm 23 of which is pressed by means of a spring 25 acting upon an opposite arm 24.- against a stop 26. The arm 24 is formed with a curved portion corresponding to the roller 17 and with rounded ends, so that during the forward movement of the slide, the arm 24 can be easily pressed upward against the action of the spring 25 and slides over the roller 17.

Around the plunger 3 in the casing 1 there are mounted for longitudinal movement selooting-bars 27, racks 28, and an additional selecting bar 29. Each of the bars is provided with a notch 30 for the dog 10 and with a shoulder 31 beyond the same by means of which the rods are moved back into neutral position by means of the engagement of the plunger head 8. The selecting bars 27 are connected to the racks 28 movably arranged above them in the casing 1, by the intermediary of pinions 32 so that on the forward movement of the plunger 3 the selecting bars 27 are moved forward or backward, depending on whether the dog 10 is coupled with the selecting bars directly or with the racks. 1

Each of the bars 27 and 29 are connected to a movable gear in a gear case 35 so that driving connection is made with the change speed gears of the transmission mechanism.

Theclutch pedal 24 operates in the well known manner when pressed forwardly to release a movable member 36 of a clutch from the tension of a clutch spring 37. The selecting spindle 6 is connected by gears 38 and 39 to a rod 40 provided with a selecting and indicating arm 41 preferably disposed at the top of an automobile steering post 42.

Assuming the automobile to be moving at a speed corresponding to the gear in engagement, in which case the members of the shifting mechanism assume the position f'illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and it is desired to change the gear relation, the

, desired gears selected by means of the arm 41 on the steering post whereby the selected Y spindle 6 is rotated until the dog 10 lies op- I fposite the bar with which the plunger 3 is to be coupled. If it is desired to put the new gear into engagement, it is necessary only to depress the pedal 33 and allow it to --'-ra'ise by the action of the clutch spring. At the commencement of the downward move ment the clutch is first released from engagement by the movement of the clutch member 36 against the tension of the spring 37 until the lost motion in the link 34 is taken up, whereupon the slide 18 is moved forward. The arm 24 of the pawl 22 contacts with the roller 17 whereby the sector swings backward until the bracket 20 reaches t The lunger 3 is simultaneously moved backward in consequence of the engagement of the sector teeth with the circular toothed portion 13, and therefore in consequence of the plunger head 8 striking the shoulder 31 of the shifting bar last pushed forward the latter is returned into the neutral position. The projection 19 of the bracket 20 thereby arrives immediately behind the plunger head 8, as shown in Fig. 4. On the return movement of the plunger 3 into the neutral position the dog 10 contacts its rounded end with the projection on the bar situated in front of the notch 30 with which bar the plunger is to be coupled. The dog is thereby-pressed inwardly into the slots 11 against the action of its spring 12 so that it can slide over the projection and snap into the notch 30. On the further depression of the e position shown dotted in Fig. 3..

pedal the projection 19 ofthe bracket 20 contacts with the plunger head 8 and moves this latter forward together with the bar selected and coupled with the same for the purpose of putting the desired gear into engagement. At the same time the arm 16 with its roller 17 has reached the position as shown in Fig. 4, and upon this further depression of the pedal the pawl 22 is carried over and past, the roller 17 until the bracket 20 takes "the dotted position shown in Fig. 3.' On raising the foot from the pedal and upon the consequent return movement thereof, the slide returns into the position illustrated in Fi 3 whereby the arm 24 of the pawl 22 sli es over the roller 17 the arm of which has returned into the position illustrated, on the engaging movement of theplunger.

It is obvious that the selecting mechanism can be operated at any time even when one of the gears is in operation, the bars for moving the gears each having a recess at the front end for a length corresponding to 1 single direction will first move the rod to disengage the shiftable gear and will then place itin driving engagement.

2. Gear shifting mechanism eomprisin a longitudinally movable member, shifta le gears, rods for moving the shiftable gears from and to neutral position, to and from operative positions, and means adapted to form connections between said movable member and the rods for first moving any one of the rods to return its ear to neutral position and by the continue movement of the member in the same direction to place any gear in operative position.

3. Gear shifting mechanism comprising an operating member, a longitudinally movable plunger, shiftable gears, rods connected to the shiftable gears, means in connection with the plunger to move the rods in either direction to place the gears in driving position, and means in connection with the operating member and the plunger for first returning the rods to neutral position before moving the rods to place the gears in operative osition.

4. n gear shifting mechanism, the combination with shiftable ears, of rods connected thereto for shifting the gears, a longitudinally movable plunger, a springpressed dog in connection therewith adapted to engage any one of the shiftable rods, an operating member having a portion adapted CJI to directly engage the plunger at a prede= tel-mined time, and a releasable connection between the operating member and the plunger whereby the plunger is first moved in one direction and the continued movement or the operating member in the same direo tion severe the releasable connection and the operating member engages the plunger directly to move in the opposit direction,

5 ln shit a mechanism, the combination with movable operating member, a plunger movable parallel therewith, shitting rods, means in connection with plunger to engage the gear shifting rods move them one direction, the rod h "7 formed a shoulder and the pitta, with a projection engage the rods moving in the other direction, an operating member adapted engage the shout dered portion plunger, a rel" connection between the and operating whereby the movement of the operating member in one direction will first cause movement of plunger one direction. to engage the shoulder thereof with the rods move them to neutral position, the continued movement oi the operating member in the same direction will eiiect its engagement With the shoulder of the plunger move the plunger and one or" the rods in the opposite direction 6. In shifting mechanism, the cornbination with a longitudinally movable plunger having a circular toothed portion and shouldered portion, of gear shifting rods, each having a shouldered portion adapted to be engaged by the plunger SliOiilder for movement therewith in one direction, means in connection With the plunger to engage any one of the rods for movement in the other direction, an operating member having a portion adapted to engage the shoulder of the plunger for moving it in one direction, a releasable connection between the operating member and the plunger comprising a toothed sector in engagement With the circular toothed portion of the plunger, and means to rotate the plunger for adjusting the connection between it and any one of the rods having longitudinal movement of the plunger.

'7. ln gear shifting mechanism, the combination with a rotatable and longitudinally movable plan er, of means for moving the same in both directions, a spring-pressed dog in connection therewith, gear shifting members movable parallel with the plunger, a spring-pressed dog in connection with the plunger adapted to engage any one of the members, and means for rotating the plune116 pedal, a plunger a shouldered portion adapted to be direcly engaged by t e operating member a part of its stroke, releasable lever co nection between the operating member a one plunger reve sing the direction or movement of the onger during another part of stroae oi he member o same direction, gear shifting rods 1 ted to be directly engaged the movethe plunger in one direction, a pressed dog for selectively engaging e of the rods when the plunger is n other direction, and means for moving the plunger to engage the dog vvith one shiltmg rods whereby be moved in a predetern ined direction,

A elective mechanism, includcombination one or more elements table on parallel courses; an oppositely moving element interconnected each; ahutments thereon for moving them; an and means for connecting it with said ahutments, including abutments engaging each ther and traveling respectively one in a rectilinear and the other in a curviwhereby they each other during only a portion of the actuators stroke; and o her means through which the acto movesthe elements in another portion its stroke.

16 A gear shifting apparatus comprising gearing for establishing a plurality of driving relations, a plurality slides connected to said gearing, a longitudinal movement of any slide serving to establish a certain driving relation, and means operative to move said slides into neutral position and by its further continued movement in the same di rection to move one of said slides into operative position.

testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses, on this 13th day of March A. 191 i,

E EM AltlD E.

Witnesses:

KENT Wonnnnc, iltnnna pen 

